What’s New in Cardiac MRI?

September 01, 2026 · 92 articles · 15 research themes · covering August 25, 2026 – September 01, 2026

Overview

Across this week’s set of studies, a dominant theme is the rapid expansion of quantitative cardiac MRI (and related multimodality imaging) from “diagnosis” toward mechanistic biomarkers and improved risk stratification. Multiple papers focus on extracting more information from CMR tissue and motion—e.g., ECV and advanced mapping (T1ρ, hepatic T1/ECV), LGE quantification (including LGE burden and blood-nulled approaches), and novel diffusion tensor imaging sequences—to better characterize diffuse fibrosis, peri-infarct injury heterogeneity, and microstructural remodeling. In parallel, perfusion and microvascular dysfunction are increasingly measurable even when conventional CMR is normal (Q-CMR in MINOCA; stress CMR in hypertension), supporting earlier identification of patients at risk through coronary microvascular impairment.

A second major thread is imaging-driven prediction of arrhythmic and structural risk in heterogeneous cardiomyopathies and heart failure phenotypes. Studies and reviews emphasize that mortality alone is an incomplete endpoint—particularly in cardiac amyloidosis—and that CMR-derived substrate measures (LGE/T1 mapping, arrhythmogenic phenotypes, trabecular complexity) can refine sudden cardiac death risk. Related work in myocarditis highlights the value of CMR for stratifying post-discharge ventricular arrhythmia recurrence and for assessing conduction abnormalities (AV block severity). Complementing this, several AI/automation papers aim to standardize and scale CMR interpretation—through segmentation, radiomics, motion tracking, and even report augmentation—while also addressing real-world deployment issues like dataset bias and workflow integration.

Finally, the digest reflects ongoing clinical translation and diagnostic problem-solving beyond “pure imaging.” Case reports and frameworks tackle diagnostic pitfalls (e.g., pericardial cyst enlargement mimicking malignancy; rare cardiac metastases; constrictive pericarditis in systemic disease; eosinophilic pericardial effusion from sparganosis), while interventional and procedural studies (e.g., transcatheter valve planning, thrombectomy for large thrombus STEMI, stereotactic VT radioablation) show how imaging phenotyping is increasingly tied to therapeutic decision-making. Together, the articles point toward a future where multimodal imaging, quantitative CMR, and trustworthy AI converge to deliver more personalized cardiovascular care.

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Multimodality CMR/PET Mechanistic Cardiac Physiology

Precision-guided heart failure interventions: The expanding role of advanced cardiac imaging and artificial intelligence.

This narrative review studied how precision-guided heart failure interventions increasingly rely on advanced cardiac imaging and artificial intelligence across anatomy, myocardial substrate, and physiology. The key finding was that integrating imaging (including echocardiography, CMR, and invasive hemodynamics) with AI can support more tailored decisions for therapies such as transcatheter valve interventions, cardiac resynchronization/pacing, complex coronary procedures, and implantable pressure sensors. Clinically, it frames a roadmap for improving outcomes in heterogeneous heart failure phenotypes through imaging-driven precision care.

Albulushi A, Al-Farhan H · American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Noninvasive Diagnosis of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Using the Left Atrioventricular Coupling Index.

This retrospective multicenter study compared three imaging approaches to estimate the left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) and evaluated diagnostic performance for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in 1,680 patients from two academic hospitals and the ASPIRE registry, using right heart catheterization as the reference standard. The study tested LACI as a noninvasive surrogate of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction by relating left atrial minimal volume to left ventricular end-diastolic volume. If validated, LACI-based imaging could reduce reliance on invasive right heart catheterization for HFpEF diagnosis.

Janssen-Telders C, Ābele J, Meijboom LJ et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Sport Type Alone Does Not Reliably Predict Distinct Cardiac Phenotypes in Athletes.

This study tested whether sport-type classification frameworks from ESC and AHA/ACC guidelines predict distinct CMR-determined cardiac remodeling phenotypes in 1,024 elite athletes (775 athletes across 48 disciplines; 310 women) and 249 controls. Sport-type categories did not reliably predict the CMR remodeling phenotypes defined using sex-specific z-scores (remodeling z≥1.645). The results challenge the clinical assumption that sport type alone maps to specific CMR phenotypes, supporting more individualized CMR-based assessment in athletes.

van Diepen MA, Prakken NHJ, van der Zwaard S et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Safety of withdrawal of pharmacological treatment after recovery from HER2 therapy-related cardiac dysfunction: the HER-SAFE trial.

The HER-SAFE randomized open-label multicenter trial evaluated whether withdrawing heart failure therapy (HFT) after recovery from anti-HER2 cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is safe versus continuing HFT in breast cancer survivors with recovered CTRCD. Participants with recovered disease (asymptomatic, LVEF ≥50%, normalized biomarkers) were randomized to HFT withdrawal or continuation, stratified by antecedent CTRCD severity (mild, moderate, or severe). The trial directly addresses whether long-term cardioprotective therapy can be safely de-escalated after HER2-related cardiac recovery.

Dowsing B, Dehbi HM, Andres MS et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Stent Retriever Thrombectomy in Patients With Myocardial Infarction The Open-label, Multicenter NATURE Superiority trial.

The NATURE superiority trial investigated whether stent-retriever thrombectomy plus conventional PCI improves outcomes compared with conventional PCI alone in 156 randomized patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and large thrombus burden (TIMI thrombus grade ≥3). The study focused on infarct size as the key efficacy endpoint in this high-risk angiographic subgroup. If positive, thrombectomy could become an evidence-based adjunct for STEMI patients with heavy thrombus burden to reduce infarct size and improve clinical outcomes.

Valgimigli M, Frigoli E, Landi A et al. · Journal of the American College of Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Myocardial Edema, Blood Flow, and Contractility in Takotsubo Syndrome: Comparative Evaluation with CMR and PET.

This retrospective study evaluated relationships among myocardial edema, stress myocardial blood flow (MBF), myocardial flow reserve (MFR), and coronary vascular resistance (CVR) in patients with Takotsubo syndrome who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and positron emission tomography (PET) within 30 days of admission and within 7 days of each other. CMR-derived myocardial T2 (edema) was analyzed against PET-derived stress MBF/MFR and CVR regionally and globally to clarify how edema relates to coronary microcirculatory impairment and LV contractility. These multimodality CMR–PET findings are clinically significant because they may improve mechanistic understanding and risk stratification of transient LV dysfunction in Takotsubo syndrome by linking edema to microvascular blood-flow physiology.

Kadoya Y, Alaqaili M, Chong AY et al. · Journal of nuclear cardiology : official publication of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Cardiac MRI Quantitative Tissue Characterization (T1/T2/ECV/LGE and Beyond)

Assessment of late gadolinium enhancement peri-infarct zone in myocardial infarction with in vivo endogenous T1-rho mapping.

This retrospective cardiac MRI study evaluated endogenous T1ρ mapping versus native T1 and T2 mapping for identifying late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)-defined peri-infarct zones in 35 acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, 21 chronic MI patients, and 35 healthy controls. T1ρ values across myocardial segments showed better diagnostic performance for delineating peri-infarct zones than native T1/T2 mapping when benchmarked against LGE. These findings suggest endogenous T1ρ mapping could improve noninvasive characterization of myocardial injury heterogeneity after MI, potentially refining risk assessment and treatment targeting.

Li Y, An S, Xu S et al. · European journal of radiology open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Integrated left ventricular mass and left atrial function for prediction of cardiovascular outcomes: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

This cohort study within the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis evaluated whether a CMR-derived left ventricular mass-to-left atrial (LA) strain ratio predicts cardiovascular outcomes and reflects early atrioventricular mechanical uncoupling. The key finding was that the LV mass-to-LA strain ratio, calculated from CMR at exams 1 (2000–2002) and 5 (2010–2012), improved prediction of cardiovascular events beyond considering LV mass or LA strain alone. This is significant because it provides a physiologically grounded imaging biomarker for earlier risk detection.

Salameh E, Hoballah M, Ebrahimihoor E et al. · American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Enhanced risk stratification in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy through the integration of extracellular volume fraction on cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

The study investigated whether cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) extracellular volume fraction (ECV) adds prognostic value beyond late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in 990 consecutive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients. During a median 3.2-year follow-up, higher ECV was associated with HCM-related events (including sudden cardiac death, heart failure events, and HCM-related death) and improved risk stratification beyond LGE alone. This supports integrating diffuse fibrosis quantification via ECV into CMR-based prognostic models for HCM.

Lee HJ, Gwak SY, Lee S et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Incremental prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance beyond biomarker staging in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.

This multicentre retrospective study evaluated whether adding cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters to National Amyloidosis Centre (NAC) serum biomarker staging improves prognosis in 266 patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA). Incorporating CMR predictors into NAC staging provided incremental prognostic value for time to death and helped refine evaluation for advanced heart failure therapies and emerging disease-modifying treatments. Scientifically, the work supports using CMR beyond biomarker-only staging to better stratify ATTR-CA severity and guide treatment selection.

Chiou T, Minga I, Subashchandran V et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Evaluation of Third-Order Motion-Compensated Cardiac Diffusion Tensor Imaging Across Cardiac Phases Using an Ultra-High-Performance Clinical Scanner.

This study evaluated a third-order motion-compensated cardiac diffusion tensor imaging sequence (M3-MCSE) on a clinical 3T MRI scanner with ultra-high-performance gradients (200 mT/m) in 20 healthy subjects, comparing it with STEAM and second-order MCSE (M2-MCSE) across peak systole and diastasis. M3-MCSE improved cardiac diffusion tensor imaging metrics and image quality relative to comparators, and additional testing across multiple diastolic trigger delays showed reduced motion-induced diffusion signal loss. Clinically, this supports M3-MCSE as a more accurate cDTI method for quantifying myocardial microstructure with less motion sensitivity.

Wen K, Ferreira PF, Di Biase Oemick A et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Comparative study of robotic-assisted and uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery: Insights from the introduction of Versius CMR surgical robot-Propensity score-matched analysis.

This prospective agreement study compared hepatic native T1 and extracellular volume (ECV) quantification using a single wide region-of-interest (ROI) versus multiple small ROIs in outpatients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and Fontan circulation. The authors evaluated how consistently the two ROI strategies produced T1 and ECV measurements across these congenital heart disease populations. The findings inform standardized hepatic mapping protocols for assessing congestion and fibrosis in Fontan and repaired TOF patients.

Bakr L, Bakr S, Chaubey M et al. · Surgery · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Intravenous dexrazoxane for haemorrhagic myocardial infarction: the SHIELD-MI study.

The SHIELD-MI phase IIa study investigated whether intravenous dexrazoxane (DXZ) given before primary PCI and repeated at 4, 8, and 12 hours could reduce hemorrhagic myocardial infarction (intramyocardial hemorrhage, IMH) injury in 50 matched patients with reperfused STEMI undergoing cardiac MRI (CMR) with a blinded core lab. Patients received DXZ 250 mg versus matched placebo comparators selected from 78 placebo-treated patients, with the trial designed to test DXZ’s iron-mediated injury mitigation hypothesis. If effective, DXZ would provide a targeted pharmacologic strategy for IMH after reperfused STEMI, potentially improving CMR-defined outcomes in this high-risk subgroup.

Vora KP, Bhatt K, Doshi S et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Cardiac MRI Perfusion & Microvascular Dysfunction (Stress/Q-CMR/CMD)

Feasibility and Yield of a Diagnostic Protocol for Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries.

This prospective multicenter cohort study assessed the feasibility and diagnostic yield of a structured MINOCA (myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries) diagnostic protocol beyond initial invasive coronary angiography (ICA), including ad hoc optical coherence tomography (OCT) for culprit lesion identification. The key finding was that a stepwise protocol using OCT after ICA can be implemented in real-world MINOCA workups to improve determination of the final diagnosis despite constraints that limit comprehensive testing. Clinically, the approach supports guideline-consistent escalation strategies to reduce diagnostic uncertainty in MINOCA.

Nishimiya K, Yosofi B, Dimitriu-Leen AC et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Long-term prognostic value of stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with hypertension without known coronary artery disease.

This longitudinal cohort study evaluated the long-term prognostic value of vasodilator stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with hypertension without known coronary artery disease (CAD). Stress CMR findings were associated with subsequent major cardiovascular events (MACE, including cardiovascular death and non-fatal myocardial infarction), demonstrating prognostic utility for risk stratification in this screening population. The significance is that stress perfusion CMR may help identify hypertensive patients at higher future risk even when CAD is not previously known.

Houssany-Pissot S, Garot J, Duhamel S et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Microvascular dysfunction and neurovascular signalling impairment in diabetic silent myocardial ischemia.

This mechanistic review studied diabetic silent myocardial ischemia (DSMI) by linking coronary microvascular dysfunction with neurovascular signaling impairment in the setting of chronic hyperglycemia. The authors concluded that oxidative stress, advanced glycation end-product (AGE) accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction reduce nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and impair coronary flow reserve and capillary integrity, while diabetic neuropathy attenuates nociceptive signaling that normally contributes to symptom perception. Clinically, the synthesis highlights targets (microvascular and neurovascular pathways) that may explain why ischemia is “silent” and could inform future DSMI therapies.

Rajasekaran HK · Microvascular research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Early quantitative stress-perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance reveals perfusion abnormalities consistent with coronary microvascular dysfunction in MINOCA patients with otherwise normal cardiac magnetic resonance findings.

This study evaluated early quantitative stress-perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance (Q-CMR) in 23 MINOCA patients whose conventional CMR findings were normal at rest, compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Q-CMR revealed perfusion abnormalities consistent with coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) despite otherwise normal conventional CMR. The results support Q-CMR as a sensitive tool for detecting CMD-related pathology in MINOCA, potentially improving risk stratification and targeted management.

Sahar R, Lenell J, Lindahl B et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Cardiac MRI Hemodynamics & Flow (4D flow/5D flow/pressure gradients)

Sequential Changes in Right Ventricular Straein During the Development of Pulmonary Hypertension Assessed With Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking: An Animal Study.

This animal study used cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking to quantify sequential right ventricular (RV) strain during pulmonary hypertension (PH) development in Wistar rats after monocrotaline injection. RV strain changes over 1–4 weeks correlated with histological vascular remodeling associated with PH progression. These data support CMR feature tracking as a sensitive, noninvasive biomarker for monitoring RV functional deterioration during PH development.

Kim NY, Im DJ, Hong YJ et al. · Korean journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Prognostic Value of Coronary Sinus Flow and Aortic Pressure Gradient Quantified by 4D Flow CMR in AMI.

This retrospective study investigated whether 4D flow CMR–derived coronary sinus flow (CS Flow) and aortic pressure gradients predict outcomes in 103 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing CMR prior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The key finding was that CS Flow (normalized to left ventricular mass) and supra-/sub-aortic valve peak pressure gradients (Supra-APGmax, Sub-APGmax) provided prognostic information for a composite endpoint including death, unplanned revascularization, recurrent MI, heart failure rehospitalization, and stroke. Scientifically and clinically, it suggests 4D flow CMR hemodynamic biomarkers may refine post-AMI risk prediction beyond conventional measures.

Li Y, Wang S, Li G et al. · Academic radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

5D Flow MRI Reveals Respiration-Driven Changes in Blood Flow Energetics in Congenital Heart Disease.

This study used 5D flow MRI to quantify respiration-cycle variations in blood flow energetics in patients with right-sided congenital heart disease, including 14 Fontan patients, 10 intracardiac shunt patients, and 9 controls. Respiratory state–dependent changes were detected in kinetic energy (KEmean) and viscous energy loss (ELtotal) with flow inefficiency (ELtotal/KEmean) varying across the respiratory cycle, revealing effects not captured by standard 4D flow MRI approaches. These findings support 5D flow MRI as a more physiologically sensitive hemodynamic monitoring tool for optimizing management and risk assessment in Fontan and shunt physiology.

Nallamothu T, Weiss EK, Baraboo J et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardiac MRI for Arrhythmia Risk & Ventricular Substrate

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance-based arrhythmogenic substrate assessment improves sudden cardiac death risk stratification in heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction: a multicenter retrospective observational study.

This multicenter retrospective observational study assessed whether cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)–based arrhythmogenic substrate measures improve sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk stratification in 1855 patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF), using development (n=1417) and external validation (n=438) cohorts. LGE and T1 mapping–derived features improved prediction of SCD and enabled a more accurate clinical risk stratification algorithm than standard approaches. Clinically, this supports using CMR tissue characterization to identify HFmrEF patients at higher SCD risk for targeted preventive strategies.

Wang W, Zhu R, Gao Y et al. · The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Non-invasive detection of acute cell-mediated graft rejection in paediatric heart transplant recipients: The role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

In 15 pediatric heart transplant recipients, the study evaluated whether multiparametric contrast-enhanced CMR can non-invasively detect acute cell-mediated graft rejection, using endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) and right heart catheterization as reference standards. Rejection cases showed distinct CMR findings and differences in textural features of parametric maps between rejection and non-rejection states. If validated, multiparametric CMR could reduce reliance on EMB by improving noninvasive detection of acute rejection in children.

Gesuete V, Ragni L, Niro F et al. · International journal of cardiology. Congenital heart disease · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Blood-nulled late gadolinium enhancement increases sensitivity for subtle basal myocardial scar in mitral valve prolapse with annular disjunction.

This case report studied a 67-year-old woman with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and mitral annular disjunction (MAD) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) to detect subtle basal inferolateral myocardial scar after Holter-documented ventricular ectopy. The authors found that “blood-nulled” LGE increased sensitivity for a small (reported 3-mm posterior MAD context) basal myocardial scar that was obscured on conventional bright-blood LGE. Clinically, this suggests blood-nulled LGE may improve CMR risk stratification for arrhythmogenic MVP/MAD phenotypes by revealing fibrosis that standard LGE can miss.

Avakian A, Umair M · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

CardioRadNet: Cardiac mass diagnosis through integrated segmentation and radiomic analysis.

CardioRadNet was proposed and tested as an integrated deep learning segmentation plus radiomics classification framework to diagnose cardiac masses (CMs) on contrast-free T1-weighted cardiac MRI, targeting differentiation of benign versus malignant lesions. In a cohort of 127 pathologically confirmed cases (62 malignant, 65 benign), the method’s key advance is combining automated segmentation with radiomics-based classification rather than relying on manually delineated regions or narrow binary tasks. This is significant because it could streamline and improve noninvasive characterization of rare but clinically heterogeneous cardiac masses to guide management.

Ferretti M, Pagliaccia M, Baggiano A et al. · Computer methods and programs in biomedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Novel insights on ventricular arrhythmias in cardiac amyloidosis: an updated narrative review.

This narrative review summarized current evidence on ventricular arrhythmias in cardiac amyloidosis, focusing on how arrhythmic mechanisms differ between light-chain (AL) and transthyretin (ATTR) subtypes. It emphasized that while cardiac MRI predicts all-cause mortality, it does not reliably distinguish patients likely to experience shockable ventricular arrhythmias versus those who die from progressive heart failure or electromechanical dissociation. The review underscores a key limitation in prophylactic ICD evidence and motivates improved risk stratification strategies beyond mortality prediction.

Butturini C, Fortunato S, Setti M et al. · Revista espanola de cardiologia (English ed.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

From Scar to Stereotactic Arrhythmia Radioablation With inHEART-Guided Targeting: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Stereotactic Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia in a Single-Center Experience.

This single-center clinical evaluation studied stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation for ventricular tachycardia using inHEART-guided targeting, integrating contrast-enhanced cardiac CT (including late enhancement) with optional cardiac MRI and MUSIC-based 3D substrate segmentation. The key reported outcome was the feasibility of the workflow with dosimetric results and early clinical outcomes across the initial 18 treated patients. Clinically, this supports stereotactic radioablation as an image-guided, substrate-targeted option for VT when conventional ablation strategies are challenging.

Brun T, Mignon P, Massabeau C et al. · Practical radiation oncology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Myocarditis Outcomes, Predictors, and Conduction Disease

Feasibility of cardiac magnetic resonance for assessing atrioventricular block in acute myocarditis.

This retrospective single-center study assessed atrioventricular block (AVB) severity in 105 acute myocarditis patients using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) functional and tissue parameters, comparing non-AVB, nonadvanced AVB, and advanced AVB groups. CMR-derived tissue/functional measures differed across AVB strata, enabling evaluation of AVB presence and severity in acute myocarditis. Clinically, this suggests CMR could help noninvasively risk-stratify myocarditis patients with conduction abnormalities and potentially guide monitoring intensity and management.

Liao R, Qian Z, Yin F et al. · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Incidence and predictors of major arrhythmic events after acute myocarditis complicated by ventricular arrhythmias: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed recurrence rates and predictors of major arrhythmic events (MAEs) after acute myocarditis complicated by sustained ventricular arrhythmias in patients discharged from the acute phase. The analysis synthesized postdischarge ventricular arrhythmia recurrence risk and identified clinical predictors to inform risk stratification and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) decision-making. Scientifically and clinically, it aims to reduce uncertainty in secondary prevention by clarifying which myocarditis patients are most likely to experience recurrent major ventricular arrhythmic outcomes.

M’Rabet S, Kaboré EG, Rav-Acha M et al. · Heart rhythm · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Cardiomyopathy Phenotyping & Genetic/Inherited Cardiovascular Disease

Phenotypic overlap masking MELAS in Turner syndrome: a diagnostic challenge.

This case report presented a 51-year-old woman with mosaic Turner syndrome whose clinical and imaging features overlapped with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), creating a diagnostic challenge. The authors emphasized that phenotypic overlap can mask MELAS and lead to diagnostic anchoring and potential mismanagement. The clinical significance is that clinicians should consider mitochondrial etiologies even when another genetic syndrome (Turner syndrome) appears to explain the phenotype.

Shinozaki T, Sumiyoshi H, Ueshima D et al. · European heart journal. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Left ventricular myocardial strain analysis by feature tracking cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases: A case-control study.

This case-control study evaluated left ventricular myocardial strain measured by cardiac MRI feature tracking (CMR-FT) in 30 patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) versus 10 matched healthy controls. CMR-FT detected subclinical myocardial dysfunction despite preserved conventional cardiac function, indicating strain abnormalities in ARD patients. The scientific significance is that CMR-FT may improve early detection and monitoring of cardiac involvement in ARDs.

ElMahdy EKA, Ibrahim AS, AbdulRahim SAA et al. · La Clinica terapeutica · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Managing pregnancy in women with pre-existing cardiomyopathies: A case series.

This case series described pregnancy management in women with pre-existing cardiomyopathies, covering dilated, hypertrophic, and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy phenotypes and their genetic influences. Across cases, major complications included arrhythmias, worsening left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and heart failure, with management guided by biomarkers and pharmacologic/device strategies during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. The significance is practical: it provides phenotype-specific considerations to reduce maternal and fetal risk in high-risk pregnancies.

Bruce C, Montanaro C, Wander G et al. · Case reports in women’s health · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

[Ventricular hypertrophy and pre-excitation: a diagnostic clue to PRKAG2-related cardiomyopathy].

This case report described a 44-year-old man with ventricular hypertrophy and pre-excitation suggestive of PRKAG2-related cardiomyopathy, a metabolic phenocopy of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Cardiac MRI showed asymmetric hypertrophy, extensive late gadolinium enhancement, and early adverse remodeling, and genetic testing confirmed a PRKAG2 mutation (heterozygous). The clinical significance is that recognizing PRKAG2-related cardiomyopathy—especially with CMR findings—can prevent misclassification and supports appropriate risk management, including primary prevention defibrillator implantation.

Quadrini F, Rodio D, Maddaluna P et al. · Giornale italiano di cardiologia (2006) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Left atrial reservoir strain for predicting progression to end-stage in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

This cohort study evaluated whether left atrial reservoir strain measured by echocardiography predicts progression to end-stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in 925 HCM patients, with a CMR subcohort of 491 patients. The key finding was that left atrial reservoir strain provided prognostic information for progression to end-stage HCM (defined as LVEF <50% without reversible causes) over a median 6.5-year follow-up. Clinically, it identifies a potentially actionable echocardiographic marker to stratify risk and guide monitoring or preventive strategies in HCM.

Kwak S, Jeong MH, Park CS et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Prognostic Value of MRI-Based Left Ventricular Trabecular Complexity for Sudden Cardiac Death in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

This prospective study evaluated whether MRI-based left ventricular trabecular complexity quantified by fractal dimension (FD) predicts sudden cardiac death (SCD) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and examined its relationship with sarcomere gene variants in 835 HCM patients. The key finding was that higher or altered LV trabecular complexity (FD) on 3T SSFP cine MRI was associated with SCD risk, and the study linked trabecular complexity measures to underlying sarcomere variant status. Scientifically and clinically, it supports FD-based CMR phenotyping as a potential risk stratification tool for SCD prevention in HCM.

Zhang J, Yu M, Pu L et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Unmasking subclinical cardiomyopathy: The role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing when screening genotype-positive phenotype negative relatives.

This single-centre case series evaluated whether cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) can detect subclinical cardiomyopathy in gene-positive, phenotype-negative (G+P-) relatives undergoing cascade testing in families with likely/definite pathogenic cardiomyopathy variants. The key finding was that CPET provided additional sensitivity beyond conventional screening (ECG, echocardiography, Holter monitoring, and cardiac MRI) for uncovering subclinical disease in relatives who were otherwise phenotype negative. Clinically, this supports refining surveillance strategies for genotype-positive relatives to enable earlier intervention.

Abela M, Scicluna J, Debattista J et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Cardiac Imaging AI for Segmentation, Radiomics, and Classification

Spatial phenotyping of epicardial adipose tissue from cardiac MRI.

The study developed and evaluated a deep learning framework to segment epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and quantify its spatial distribution across the four cardiac chambers from cardiac MRI in patients with cardiovascular disease. Using an asymmetric multi-modal CNN-Transformer for whole-heart segmentation combined with spatial statistical modeling, the method enabled chamber-resolved, quantitative characterization of EAT distribution. This provides a scalable imaging analytics approach to better understand how EAT spatial heterogeneity may contribute to cardiovascular risk and disease mechanisms.

Feng F, Long T, Hasaballa AI et al. · Medical image analysis · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Free-Breathing Dynamic, Regularized, Adaptive Cluster Optimization (DRACO) Cine Cardiac MRI in Atrial Fibrillation.

This prospective study evaluated a free-breathing adaptation of Dynamic Regularized Adaptive Cluster Optimization (DRACO) cine cardiac MRI in atrial fibrillation (AF), comparing 20 AF patients to 10 sinus rhythm controls at 3.0T using bSSFP cine with ECG-gated segmented acquisition and sorted golden-step. The key finding was that tailored free-breathing DRACO cine could simultaneously manage cardiac and respiratory motion in AF, producing high-quality, quantifiable cine images. Scientifically and clinically, it supports DRACO as a practical approach for cine MRI in patients with irregular rhythms who cannot reliably perform breath-holds.

Ming Z, Pogosyan A, Dong X et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Artificial intelligence for right ventricular assessment: current evidence and future directions.

This review synthesized evidence for artificial intelligence (AI)–based right ventricular (RV) structural and functional assessment in pulmonary hypertension, valvular disease, and congenital heart disease across echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and computed tomography. AI has been reported to achieve automated RV segmentation and chamber quantification accuracy approaching interobserver variability, reducing interpreter dependence. These advances could improve RV risk stratification and standardize RV measurements across imaging platforms, supporting more consistent clinical decision-making.

Tan X, Fowler J, Li M et al. · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Stratification of children with myocarditis using radiomics signatures in LGE cardiovascular MRI.

This study investigated radiomics signatures derived from late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular MRI to stratify pediatric myocarditis patients, using quantitative texture and location features rather than qualitative LGE interpretation. The authors compared radiomic features across resampling strategies using a digital phantom to mitigate variability from patient size and imaging parameters, then applied non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) to derive signatures for case stratification. The clinical significance is improved risk stratification in children with myocarditis by turning routine LGE CMR into quantitative, reproducible prognostic phenotypes.

Laube AP, Huellebrand M, Ter-Minassian L et al. · Computer methods and programs in biomedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Optimized Reduced Field of View and Fat Suppression Methods for Interleaved Multislice In Vivo Cardiac Diffusion Tensor Imaging.

This work optimized reduced field-of-view (FOV) and fat-suppression strategies for interleaved multislice cardiac diffusion tensor imaging (cDTI) using two-slice motion-compensated spin-echo data from 20 healthy volunteers. The authors compared four reduced phase-encode (PE) FOV approaches (including 2DRF with 180° or 90° PE-direction pulses and a proposed flip-back sequence) to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) while minimizing artifacts. The results provide practical acquisition guidance to make cDTI more robust and clinically feasible by reducing artifacts and improving image quality.

Luo Y, Ferreira PF, Wen K et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Agreement between single and multiple ROI strategies for hepatic T1 and ECV mapping in tetralogy of Fallot and Fontan circulation.

This study developed EFFNet, a deep learning model for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) identification using 12-lead ECG signals, and evaluated it with 5-fold cross-validation. EFFNet combined a convolutional neural network–derived morphological feature stream with algorithm-derived amplitude features via a feature fusion module and used a mixture-of-experts module for classification. This approach aims to improve sensitivity over conventional ECG criteria, potentially enabling more accurate, automated LVH detection in clinical practice.

Innocenzi AM, Fernandes FP, Secco JCP et al. · Abdominal radiology (New York) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Accelerated Cardiac MRI Using Deep Learning Cine Imaging: Validation in Pediatric Patients both with and without Congenital Heart Disease.

This prospective pediatric validation study compared conventional breath-held 2D bSSFP cine cardiac MRI with deep-learning (DL) accelerated cine imaging at multiple acceleration levels in 50 children, including those with congenital heart disease (CHD). The key finding was that DL-accelerated cine imaging preserved diagnostic accuracy while reducing acquisition burden compared with standard breath-held imaging. This is clinically significant because it can make cardiac MRI more feasible and reliable in children and CHD patients who struggle with repeated breath holds.

Kochav J, Ma J, Jambawalikar S et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

A novel convolution-transformer model for differentiating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from Phenocopies using cardiac MRI.

This study developed a novel convolution-transformer deep learning model using a cardiovascular magnetic resonance foundation model to differentiate hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) from phenocopies (hypertensive heart disease and cardiac amyloidosis) and from normal controls on cardiac MRI. The key finding was improved automated classification accuracy for distinguishing HCM from radiologically overlapping phenotypes and normal hearts. Scientifically and clinically, it supports AI-assisted CMR interpretation to reduce diagnostic uncertainty in inherited cardiomyopathy workups.

Guo X, Zhou S, Shen Y et al. · Magnetic resonance imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Echo Chambers: Bias and Representation in Cardiac Imaging Datasets for Artificial Intelligence.

This review assessed bias and representation in publicly available cardiac imaging datasets used for artificial intelligence across echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and cardiac CT. The key findings were that ~80% of datasets originate from high-income countries, there are major gaps in demographic reporting, and model performance disparities across racial and ethnic groups are consistently observed. This is significant because it highlights dataset-level inequities that can undermine AI generalizability and fairness in cardiovascular care.

Gorijavolu R, Jaiswal N, Pratap JS et al. · Current cardiology reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Pooled two-cohort MRI body composition phenotyping with open-source deep learning.

This study developed and validated MRSegmentator, an open-source nnU-Net-based deep learning pipeline, to quantify MRI body composition phenotypes across pooled cohorts with differing acquisition protocols. Using 45,851 adults from the German National Cohort (3T multi-center Siemens) and UK Biobank, the method quantified visceral adipose tissue (VAT), abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT), gluteofemoral adipose tissue (GFAT), trunk musculature, and liver fat-fraction masks. The approach enables scalable, radiation-free, harmonized body composition phenotyping for large epidemiologic studies and downstream risk modeling.

Mertens CJ, Häntze H, Ziegelmayer S et al. · Communications medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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AI for CMR Workflow, Reporting, and Retrieval

A cross-sectional online survey evaluating how anaesthesiologists view cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging reports as a tool for perioperative risk evaluation.

This cross-sectional online survey studied how anaesthesiologists perceive and use cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) reports for perioperative risk evaluation. The key finding was the degree to which preexisting CMR findings are incorporated into perioperative decision-making and what factors influence their use and understanding. Clinically, it informs how CMR reporting and communication could be optimized to improve perioperative cardiovascular risk assessment.

Fischer K, Harms R, Fini JN et al. · BJA open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Deformable image registration for self-supervised cardiac phase detection in cardiac magnetic resonance images of patients with various diseases.

The study proposed a self-supervised deep learning approach using deformable image registration to detect cardiac cine keyframes beyond end-systole and end-diastole in short-axis (SAX) and four-chamber (4CH) CMR across patients with various cardiac diseases. The method automatically identified five keyframes in SAX and four keyframes in 4CH by learning motion descriptors from registration-derived dense deformation fields. This can improve automated temporal phase detection and enable more detailed, sub-phase analysis of myocardial motion for downstream CMR tasks.

Mueller SK, Koehler S, Kiekenap J et al. · Medical image analysis · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

ContiMorph: An unsupervised learning framework for cardiac motion tracking with time-continuous diffeomorphism.

This study developed ContiMorph, an unsupervised deep-learning framework for cardiac motion tracking in cardiac image sequences using time-continuous diffeomorphism rather than relying on scaling-and-squaring (SS) integration. ContiMorph used a frame-aware U-Net plus a time-embedded transformer to learn temporally continuous intra-frame motion fields, improving tracking accuracy by better exploiting motion continuity. The significance is that more temporally consistent cardiac motion estimation could enhance quantitative cardiac function assessment and downstream diagnostic performance.

Jiang M, Ruan X, Zheng L et al. · Medical image analysis · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

CardioMorphNet: Cardiac motion prediction using a shape-guided Bayesian recurrent deep network.

CardioMorphNet was developed and evaluated as a shape-guided Bayesian recurrent deep network to predict 3D cardiac motion from short-axis (SAX) cine CMR images, using a recurrent variational autoencoder to model spatiotemporal dependencies across the cardiac cycle. The key contribution is a deformable registration framework that incorporates cardiac anatomical regions via bi-ventricular segmentation, addressing limitations of intensity-only registration losses that can miss relevant anatomy. This approach is significant for more accurate CMR-based functional assessment and potentially improved detection of cardiac abnormalities from cine imaging.

Movahed RA, Rezaee A, Zakeri A et al. · Medical image analysis · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Toward Robust and Harmonious Adaptation for Cross-modal Retrieval.

This paper studied cross-modal retrieval (CMR) under the general-to-customized paradigm, focusing on the query shift (QS) problem in real-world settings where the full target-domain query set is not available upfront. The key contribution was a robust and harmonious adaptation approach designed to handle online query shift during retrieval. This is significant for practical deployment of CMR systems in medical imaging workflows where data availability and query distributions change over time.

Li H, Liu Z, Yang M et al. · IEEE transactions on pattern analysis and machine intelligence · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Artificial Intelligence-enhanced cardiac MRI reporting: expert validation and patient-centered outcomes.

The study evaluated whether ChatGPT-4o could simplify and add clinical recommendations to physician-dictated cardiac MRI (CMR) reports for 75 consecutive Italian outpatients undergoing CMR at two tertiary centers. ChatGPT-4o outputs were assessed for accuracy and safety and were also evaluated for patient reception, with the goal of improving comprehension of CMR findings. This supports the potential clinical use of large language models to make CMR reporting more patient-centered and to reduce barriers for non-imaging clinicians interpreting CMR results.

Frontera A, Kotinas A, Musella A et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Congenital Heart Disease Imaging, Surgery, and Hemodynamics (Fontan/TOF/Shunts)

Pathophysiologic Consequences of Early Coarctation Stenting in a Longitudinal Porcine Model.

This longitudinal porcine model study examined pathophysiologic consequences of early coarctation stenting (COA stents with serial dilation to adult aortic diameters) versus sham and COA controls. The key finding was that early stent implantation produced measurable longitudinal cardiovascular changes by 20 weeks after staged induction (surgery at 2 weeks, stent at 6 weeks, dilations at 12 and 20 weeks). Scientifically, the model helps define how early endovascular treatment may affect mid-term vascular and cardiovascular remodeling relevant to pediatric coarctation strategies.

Gober LM, Stellon MA, Culver MA et al. · Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Intraoperative Cardiac Events During Pediatric Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Under Anesthesia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

This single-center retrospective cohort study quantified the incidence and predictors of intraoperative cardiac events during pediatric cardiac magnetic resonance (MRI) performed under anesthesia in patients ≤18 years from 2013–2025. The key finding was that intraoperative cardiovascular instability events occurred at a measurable rate even without surgical stimulus, and the study used a composite framework of intraoperative cardiovascular instability to identify predictors. Clinically, the results support improved peri-anesthesia risk assessment and monitoring strategies for children undergoing cardiac MRI.

Wingert T, Liang J, Feldman K et al. · Paediatric anaesthesia · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Impact of Systemic-to-Pulmonary Artery Shunt Embolization on Right Heart Hemodynamics in Patients with Bronchiectasis.

This study evaluated the impact of systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt (SPS) embolization on right heart hemodynamics in patients with bronchiectasis using right heart catheterization and, when tolerated, cardiac MRI before and within 24–48 hours after embolization. The key finding was that SPS embolization produced measurable changes in right heart parameters such as stroke volume, cardiac index/output, pulmonary artery pressures, and pulmonary artery wedge pressure. Clinically, it supports SPS embolization as a hemodynamically beneficial intervention in bronchiectasis-associated shunt physiology.

Wu H, Jiang F, Guo L et al. · Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Multicenter comparison of hybrid and Norwood procedures in patients with Fontan circulation.

This multicenter registry study compared hybrid stage 1 palliation (HS1P) versus the Norwood procedure in patients with Fontan circulation using the Fontan Outcomes Registry with propensity score matching. The key finding (from the reported comparison framework) was that outcomes and cardiac magnetic resonance variables were systematically contrasted across strategies, including secondary analyses by shunt type (Sano vs Blalock–Thomas–Taussig). The significance is informing surgical decision-making for single-ventricle palliation by clarifying comparative effectiveness and associated imaging phenotypes.

Kobayashi K, Schiff M, Seese L et al. · The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Valvular Heart Disease & Transcatheter Interventions (incl. M-TEER/TPVR)

An integrative approach to patient selection for mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in secondary mitral regurgitation.

This review synthesized evidence and proposed a structured patient-selection framework for mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) in secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) despite guideline-directed medical therapy. It emphasized that differences in trial outcomes (e.g., MITRA-FR vs COAPT) likely reflect echocardiographic selection and left-ventricular remodeling, implying SMR severity should be interpreted relative to ventricular size and regurgitant context. Clinically, the framework aims to better identify patients most likely to benefit from M-TEER using multimodality imaging and trial-derived selection principles.

Brusosa M, Flores-Umanzor E, Horlick E · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

One Anatomy, Multiple Valve Choices: Interobserver Agreement in Selecting Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve.

This study evaluated interobserver agreement among six experienced clinicians selecting transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPVR) device type, size, and position using 3D patient-specific anatomies reconstructed from cardiac MRI. Across 60 pediatric and adult anatomies, agreement was quantified (using Cohens’ kappa framework as described) and a practical framework for determining consensus was explored. The results inform how reliably TPVR planning can be standardized and may guide improvements in imaging-based procedural selection.

Pérez-Cualtán CE, Cabrales J, Garay F et al. · Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Advances in artificial intelligence for the evaluation of mitral regurgitation.

This review studied the current evidence for artificial intelligence (AI) across the diagnostic pathway for mitral regurgitation (MR), spanning pre-imaging screening through advanced multimodality imaging. It found that AI-enabled digital stethoscopes and deep learning–based electrocardiographic models can support scalable early detection and population-level risk stratification, but largely function as enrichment tools rather than standalone diagnostic tests. The review’s significance is guiding how AI should be integrated into MR workflows while addressing interobserver variability and clinical validation needs.

Sanchez AA, Sadeghpour A, Asch FM · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Pericardial Disease (Constrictive/Effusion/Cysts) & Diagnostic Frameworks

When rare meets rarer: constrictive pericarditis in Erdheim-Chester disease-a case report.

This case report described a 57-year-old man with multisystem Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) who developed exceptionally rare constrictive pericarditis. Multimodality imaging showed marked pericardial thickening and constrictive hemodynamics on echocardiography, diffuse late gadolinium pericardial enhancement on cardiac MRI, and circumferential periarterial infiltration on computed tomography. The report is significant because it demonstrates how advanced imaging can diagnose severe cardiac involvement in ECD when constrictive physiology is present.

Dimova-Mileva M, Kanchev I, Marinova E et al. · European heart journal. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

The role of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis of pericardial constriction.

This review article studied the emerging role of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnosing pericardial constriction (constrictive pericarditis) and distinguishing it from restrictive cardiomyopathy mimics. The key finding was that most supporting evidence uses machine learning/deep learning applied to echocardiography, with newer approaches expanding across additional imaging modalities. Scientifically and clinically, it suggests AI could improve diagnostic accuracy by integrating multimodal imaging features in a disease where misclassification is common.

Lipat K, Booth T, Sengupta PP · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Multidisciplinary approach in cardiac sarcoidosis: to biopsy or not?

This narrative review assessed the role of endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) within a multidisciplinary diagnostic framework for cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), where myocardial involvement is often patchy and EMB can yield false negatives. It summarized contemporary evidence on when tissue diagnosis remains necessary versus when noninvasive imaging strategies may suffice. The significance is improved diagnostic decision-making to balance diagnostic yield, procedural risk, and the heterogeneity of CS presentation.

Pericao A, Sharma R · Current opinion in pulmonary medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Pathway for the Diagnosis and Management of Pericardial Disease: Contemporary Perspective.

This contemporary perspective article reviewed and proposed a pathway-based diagnostic and management framework for pericardial disease across clinical scenarios such as chest pain, hemodynamic collapse, and dyspnea. The key contribution is organizing diagnosis and treatment around five key clinical scenarios to improve implementation of European Society of Cardiology/American College of Cardiology consensus guidance, including multimodal imaging and targeted immunomodulatory therapies. The significance is practical: it aims to standardize care for heterogeneous pericardial presentations and reduce variability in real-world management.

Sivalokanathan S, Herzog E, Haider SW et al. · Critical pathways in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Hemorrhagic eosinophilic pericardial effusion associated with probable sparganosis.

This case report studied hemorrhagic eosinophilic pericardial effusion in a 25-year-old man with probable sparganosis after ingesting undercooked frog meat. Despite extensive negative testing (cultures, cytology, cross-sectional imaging, cardiac MRI, PET/CT, and next-generation sequencing), the diagnosis was supported by marked eosinophilia, eosinophils in pericardial fluid, elevated IgE, and positive serology on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Spirometra. The significance is that sparganosis should be considered in eosinophilic hemorrhagic pericardial effusion when standard evaluations fail and exposure history suggests helminth infection.

Zhu Y, Wang D, Wu Y et al. · International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Postoperative Pericardial Cyst Enlargement After Recurrent Breast Cancer: Distinguishing Benign vs Malignant Etiologies.

This case report described a 52-year-old woman with recurrent breast cancer (new ipsilateral breast lobular carcinoma after prior right-sided ductal carcinoma in situ) who developed postoperative enlargement of a pericardial cyst after bilateral mastectomies and adjuvant chemoradiation. Cardiac-gated computed tomography characterized the lesion as a benign pericardial cyst and the subsequent interval enlargement was used to distinguish benign postoperative cyst enlargement from malignant pericardial involvement. The report is significant because it highlights an imaging-based diagnostic pitfall in oncology follow-up—pericardial cyst growth can mimic metastasis, so careful characterization can prevent misclassification and inappropriate staging or treatment.

Naoun AA, Pandey AK · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardiac Thrombus, Emboli, and Anticoagulation Imaging

Successful repair of a rare submitral aneurysm with basal septal defect: a technique combining edge-to-edge repair and patch exclusion.

This case report studied a 44-year-old man with a rare submitral left ventricular aneurysm (SLVA) associated with a basal septal defect, using multimodality imaging including cardiac magnetic resonance (MRI). The key finding was successful surgical repair combining edge-to-edge mitral repair with patch exclusion to address the aneurysm and severe mitral regurgitation while preserving ventricular geometry. The technique is clinically significant because it offers a structured approach to a high-mortality condition involving aneurysm rupture risk and systemic embolization.

Sawant G, Aironi B, Agarwal A et al. · Indian journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

AngioVac aspiration as a combined diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for an indeterminate right atrial mass in a patient with malignancy.

This case report studied catheter-directed AngioVac aspiration as a combined diagnostic and therapeutic approach in a woman with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma who had an indeterminate right atrial mass during evaluation for bacteremia. AngioVac aspiration achieved significant debulking with successful tissue retrieval, supporting the ability to obtain diagnostic material while avoiding high-risk surgical biopsy. The report highlights AngioVac as a potentially valuable, lower-risk strategy for differentiating thrombus versus malignant cardiac involvement in patients with active malignancy.

Abumuhfouz M, Sena A, Suleiman S et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Meta-analysis of imaging techniques for the diagnosis of left ventricular thrombus following acute myocardial infarction.

This meta-analysis evaluated diagnostic performance of imaging modalities for left ventricular thrombus (LVT) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by searching Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library through May 2025 and including 14 studies. The key finding was that imaging performance varies by modality, with delayed enhancement cardiac MRI highlighted as a comparator in the reported results. Scientifically and clinically, it informs selection of the most accurate imaging strategy to enable timely anticoagulation and reduce embolic risk after AMI.

Low CJ, Leow AS, Teo YN et al. · Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Right atrial thrombus and pulmonary embolism one year after ventricular septal defect patch repair: successful surgical management of a complicated case.

This case report documented a 17-year-old male who developed a massive right atrial thrombus with pulmonary embolism one year after ventricular septal defect (VSD) patch repair, without known hypercoagulable state and without antithrombotic therapy prior to presentation. The authors report successful surgical management of the complicated thromboembolic event. The case emphasizes the potential for late thrombus formation after VSD repair and supports careful long-term monitoring and individualized prevention strategies.

Elshaer OA, Gomaa M, Abdelfattah ME et al. · Journal of cardiothoracic surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardiovascular Risk Prediction & Prognosis (including CACS, HF phenotypes, CKD screening)

The additive value of coronary calcium in identifying cardiovascular risk in ageing people with HIV.

This study analyzed 779 people with HIV (median age 55) who underwent coronary artery calcium score (CACS) scanning to determine whether coronary calcium improves cardiovascular risk prediction beyond existing risk scores. Coronary calcium predicted adverse outcomes such as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), death, and heart failure better than Q-risk scores. Scientifically and clinically, it supports incorporating CACS into cardiovascular risk stratification for aging people with HIV to better identify those at highest risk.

Varadarajan M, Byrne R, Al-Hussaini A et al. · AIDS (London, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

[Interarterial anomalous right coronary artery in a competitive athlete: case report].

This case report studied a 37-year-old competitive endurance athlete with an anomalous right coronary artery originating from the left sinus of Valsalva and coursing interarterially with an intramural segment, identified during pre-participation screening. Coronary computed tomography angiography demonstrated a high-risk interarterial/intramural anatomy consistent with ischemic and sudden cardiac death risk during intense exercise. The report highlights the clinical importance of advanced coronary CT in risk stratification of athletes with congenital coronary anomalies.

Lodi E, Tardini L, Poli ML et al. · Giornale italiano di cardiologia (2006) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac volumes, function, and arterial stiffness five years after severe preeclampsia: A comparison with sedentary and active controls.

This study investigated cardiovascular outcomes 5 years after severe preeclampsia in women (n=10) compared with normotensive pregnancy controls (n=20, including lifestyle-matched and physically active groups) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Five years post–severe preeclampsia, CMR-derived cardiac volumes and function and measures of arterial stiffness were assessed to determine whether prior endothelial injury translates into persistent cardiovascular remodeling. The findings are significant for identifying women at long-term cardiovascular risk after severe preeclampsia and for informing prevention strategies based on lifestyle and activity.

Edvinsson C, Steding-Ehrenborg K, Venkateshvaran A et al. · Clinical physiology and functional imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Lower- Versus Conventional-Sodium Dialysate and Left Ventricular Mass in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis: Causal Analyses of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

This causal analysis studied home and self-care satellite hemodialysis patients to explain why allocation to lower dialysate [Na+] in a randomized clinical trial reduced interdialytic weight gain and BNP but did not reduce left ventricular mass index (LVMI) measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The key finding was the quantification of the causal pathway linking dialysate sodium allocation through intermediate physiological variables to LVMI, clarifying why LVMI remained unchanged. Scientifically, it refines mechanistic understanding of how dialysate composition affects cardiac remodeling endpoints in hemodialysis.

Marshall MR, Vandal AC, Chan CT et al. · Kidney medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Data-source choice in diabetes mortality surveillance and equity monitoring in the United States, 1999-2023.

This study examined whether the choice of data source (CDC WONDER vs Global Burden of Disease 2023) changes conclusions about diabetes mortality trends, high-burden jurisdictions, and income-related inequality across 51 US jurisdictions from 1999–2023. The key finding was that mortality estimates and derived equity metrics can differ depending on the surveillance dataset, affecting trend interpretation and identification of disparities. This is significant for public health surveillance and for ensuring equitable targeting of diabetes interventions.

Li WJ, Tao SS, Wang P et al. · Diabetes research and clinical practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Left Ventricular Remodeling in Childhood Cancer Survivors Treated With Anthracyclines: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and left ventricular remodeling in childhood cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines, using accelerometry for MVPA and CMR for cardiac parameters. The key finding was the association between patient-specific factors and MVPA with CMR-derived remodeling metrics such as indexed end-diastolic LV mass (LVMi), LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDVi), mass:volume ratio, and LV ejection fraction (LVEF). The results are significant because they suggest lifestyle/activity may modulate anthracycline-related cardiac remodeling risk in a vulnerable survivorship population.

Narayan HK, Chen S, Wong FL et al. · Pediatric blood & cancer · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Viability testing for guiding revascularization in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

This review synthesized evidence on myocardial viability testing for guiding revascularization decisions in ischemic cardiomyopathy, focusing on how contemporary revascularization strategies and guideline-directed medical therapy affect the predictive value of viability. It highlighted that major trials such as STICH and follow-up showed survival benefit from CABG largely independent of viability status, challenging the traditional viability-based selection paradigm. The clinical implication is that viability testing should be reconsidered and potentially de-emphasized or used more selectively in modern practice.

Li KY, Dhingra NK, Patel R et al. · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Subclinical Origins of Cardiometabolic Risk in Indian Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This cross-sectional study assessed cardiometabolic risk in apparently healthy Indian adolescents (age 11–16 years) by measuring body fat and hepatic fat and relating them to cardiometabolic risk factors. Using MRI proton density fat fraction (PDFF) on a 3.0T GE Signa Architect and whole-body fat by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the study found that a substantial proportion of adolescents had at least one cardiometabolic risk factor and that fat measures were associated with cardiometabolic risk. The significance is identifying early, subclinical cardiometabolic risk drivers in youth, supporting earlier prevention strategies in populations with rising metabolic disease burden.

Hegde SG, Kankara SR, Raj JM et al. · Indian pediatrics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Intraoperative study of afferent and efferent connections in the upper lumbar spinal cord - Part 1: Cremasteric reflex.

This intraoperative human study assessed the feasibility and neurophysiological characteristics of the cremasteric reflex (CMR) in males under general anesthesia during upper lumbar spinal surgery. In 15 male patients, cremaster muscle responses were recorded in 23 of 30 muscles with an overall recordability rate of 76% following ipsilateral upper medial thigh multipulse electrical stimulation. The significance is establishing practical stimulation/recording parameters for intraoperative monitoring of this reflex, potentially improving neurophysiological assessment during spinal procedures.

de Melo DLM, Oliveira DRDCAB, Madureira PLDS et al. · Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Hypothermia on trauma center arrival has a much greater impact on outcomes at the extremes of age.

This retrospective cohort study analyzed all trauma patients with valid arrival temperature in the 2020–2023 Trauma Quality Improvement Program database to determine how hypothermia severity affects outcomes across age extremes. It found that the impact of hypothermia on outcomes was disproportionately greater at the extremes of age (pediatric and geriatric) compared with middle-aged adults. These results support age-tailored temperature management strategies in trauma resuscitation to improve survival and reduce complications.

Crosier CJ, Rempson CM, Green A et al. · The journal of trauma and acute care surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Diastolic dysfunction persists 3 months after surgical revascularization in a large animal model of hibernating myocardium.

This study used a juvenile swine model of hibernating myocardium created by placing a constrictor around the left anterior descending artery to induce chronic ischemia without infarction, assessing recovery after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Diastolic dysfunction persisted at 3 months post-surgical revascularization despite the model’s hibernating state. These findings suggest that CABG may not reliably restore diastolic relaxation in chronic ischemia/hibernation, informing expectations and potential need for adjunct therapies in diastolic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Potel KN, Shao A, McLaughlin N et al. · The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

A scoping review of photon-counting detector computed tomography in cardiovascular imaging.

This scoping review examined photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) techniques for cardiovascular imaging across 59 studies published between January 2021 and September 2025. The review found that PCD-CT enables high-resolution, multi-energy imaging and synthesized evidence across five domains (coronary, myocardial, structural/valvular, pulmonary-cardiopulmonary function, and aortic/visceral/peripheral arteries), with heterogeneous protocols and endpoints limiting direct comparisons. Scientifically, it maps current capabilities and gaps, guiding future standardization and comparative trials of PCD-CT versus conventional CT in cardiovascular diagnosis.

Alis D, Önal MO, Orman M et al. · Diagnostic and interventional radiology (Ankara, Turkey) · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Multimodal Detection of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease.

This review/article examined multimodal detection strategies for subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in chronic kidney disease (CKD), motivated by inflammation, oxidative stress, vascular calcification, uremic toxins, ventricular remodeling, and microvascular dysfunction. The key finding was that subclinical CVD is common in CKD yet often missed, and multimodal imaging approaches (including echocardiography and coronary CT angiography, among others) may improve earlier detection. Clinically, it supports implementing imaging-based screening to reduce the CKD-associated mortality gap by enabling earlier intervention.

Baek I, Parwani P, Gaznabi S et al. · Cardiorenal medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Incremental prognostic value of late gadolinium enhancement in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a large contemporary cohort.

This large contemporary cohort study assessed the incremental prognostic value of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) burden in 3,035 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), including 56% with LGE and 8% with LGE >10%, followed for a median of 8.8 years. Higher %LGE was independently associated with the primary composite endpoint (hazard ratio 1.05 per 1% increase; p<0.001), which included cardiovascular death and appropriate ICD discharges. The findings strengthen CMR LGE quantification as a risk-stratification tool in HCM and may refine decisions about surveillance and ICD therapy.

Keen SK, Shah S, Sheashaa H et al. · Cardiovascular research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Non-cardiac/Oncology & Systemic Disease with Cardiac Imaging Links

Trends and disparities in colorectal cancer mortality among adults with diabetes mellitus in the United States: A retrospective analysis, 1999-2025 and projections to 2040.

This retrospective U.S. national mortality analysis (1999–2025) assessed colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality trends and disparities among adults with diabetes mellitus (DM) aged ≥45 years using ICD-10 codes (CRC C18–C20; DM E10–E14) and projected outcomes to 2040. The study found measurable temporal trends and subgroup disparities in CRC mortality among people with DM, with projections extending these patterns forward. Clinically, these results highlight where prevention, screening, and diabetes-related risk reduction for CRC should be prioritized in the aging U.S. population.

Tablawy M, Ibrahim AA, Badawi AA et al. · Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

SMARCA4, STK11, and KEAP1 co-inactivation associates with poor prognosis and upregulation of the TGF-β pathway in lung adenocarcinoma.

The study examined clinical outcomes and molecular pathway activity in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients with co-inactivation of SMARCA4, STK11, and KEAP1. Co-inactivation was associated with poor prognosis and increased upregulation of the TGF-β pathway compared with other genetic contexts. These findings support the use of multi-gene alteration patterns to refine risk stratification and suggest TGF-β pathway involvement as a potential therapeutic consideration in this LUAD subgroup.

Costa EA, Mello BP, Wohlhieter C et al. · Translational oncology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Outcomes From the Multicenter ACCRU-LY-1804/CARiBOU TRIAL (Cytarabine, Acalabrutinib and Rituximab Integrated With Bortezomib-Based Outpatient Therapy) in 1st Line Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

This phase 2 multicenter ACCRU-LY-1804/CARiBOU trial evaluated first-line mantle cell lymphoma treatment using alternating VR-CAP and R-cytarabine with continuous acalabrutinib (ACCRU-LY-1804) in previously untreated patients. The key finding was the trial’s reported outcomes for complete metabolic response (CMR) and safety/feasibility endpoints, including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), with results summarized for stem cell collection and rates proceeding to ASCT. Clinically, the study supports the feasibility of integrating the BTK inhibitor acalabrutinib with bortezomib-based outpatient chemotherapy to improve sustained responses in MCL.

Smith SD, Sundaram S, Giri S et al. · American journal of hematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Size-resolved microelectrical effects of fine aerosol on nocturnal ozone: Evidence from field observations and statistical modeling.

This field study investigated how particle electrical properties—specifically particle charge-to-mass ratio (CMR)—relate to nocturnal ozone (O3) enhancement in Xi’an during 2023–2025 using generalized additive models (GAM), partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), and a simplified interfacial contribution model. The key finding was that particulate electrical properties were associated with nocturnal O3 variations beyond meteorological transport effects under stable nocturnal conditions. Scientifically, it suggests that aerosol charge characteristics may contribute to nocturnal O3 chemistry and helps refine atmospheric mechanism models.

Wang Y, Zhang L, Li J et al. · Environmental research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac lipoma of the right atrial appendage: Multimodality imaging of a rare tumor at an uncommon site.

This case report studied multimodality imaging of a rare cardiac tumor—an adipose (lipoma) lesion—at the right atrial appendage (RAA) in a 60-year-old woman presenting with acute pulmonary embolism. Cardiac CT pulmonary angiography incidentally identified a small mobile fat-containing RAA mass, and cardiac MRI confirmed imaging features consistent with a lipoma. The significance is that it documents an uncommon anatomic site for cardiac lipoma and demonstrates how CT and CMR can characterize incidental RAA masses.

Kosum P, Tumkosit M, Jarutasnangkul L et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Reversible alterations of brain acetate metabolism associated with alcohol consumption.

This study examined brain acetate metabolism changes associated with alcohol consumption by scanning four groups—light drinkers, at-risk heavy drinkers, alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients in long-term recovery, and AUD treatment-seekers—during medically supervised detoxification at about one week abstinence. The key finding was that brain acetate metabolism is reversibly altered with alcohol exposure and abstinence, consistent with prior observations that alcohol acutely shifts brain substrate use and that heavy drinkers show increased capacity to oxidize acetate. Scientifically, it supports acetate as a dynamic brain fuel linked to alcohol use and recovery, with potential implications for understanding metabolic adaptations in AUD.

Kumaragamage C, Jiang L, Angarita GA et al. · Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Survival of patients with complete metabolic response on [18F]FDG PET/CT after chemotherapy prior to transplantation for colorectal liver metastases.

This study evaluated survival outcomes after transplantation for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) in patients who achieved complete metabolic response (CMR; MTV=0) on pre-transplant [18F]FDG PET/CT after chemotherapy, compared with patients with low or high metabolic tumor volume (MTV). Using pre-operative PET/CT and diagnostic CT data from 45 patients in the SECA 1 and 2 studies, the key analysis stratified patients into MTV 0, MTV low, and MTV high groups to compare disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and post-relapse survival (PRS). The clinical significance is determining whether PET-defined complete metabolic response predicts better post-transplant outcomes, supporting selection and prognostication in CRLM transplantation pathways.

Stern NM, Dueland S, Line PD et al. · Scandinavian journal of surgery : SJS : official organ for the Finnish Surgical Society and the Scandinavian Surgical Society · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Isolated Myocardial Metastases in a Neuroendocrine Tumor: 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings.

This case report described a 58-year-old man with a well-differentiated grade 1 terminal ileum neuroendocrine tumor (Ki-67 1%) who underwent 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT showing incidental myocardial foci. Cardiac MRI demonstrated corresponding myocardial signal heterogeneity, supporting isolated myocardial metastases at initial staging. The report highlights the complementary diagnostic value of somatostatin receptor PET/CT and cardiac MRI for detecting rare cardiac involvement in NETs.

Baltacioglu MH, Sahin Oguz P · Clinical nuclear medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

A case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma achieving complete remission with epcoritamab after pseudoprogression.

This case report described a 58-year-old man with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) who achieved complete remission after fourth-line lisocabtagene maraleucel and later developed histologically confirmed relapse consistent with pseudoprogression. After failure of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the patient received epcoritamab as seventh-line therapy and developed fever after the second step-up dose consistent with grade 1 cytokine release syndrome. The report highlights that pseudoprogression can occur after bispecific antibody–based strategies and underscores the need to distinguish true relapse from treatment-related imaging changes when using epcoritamab.

Takahara A, Yagi Y, Kanemasa Y et al. · Journal of clinical and experimental hematopathology : JCEH · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Generated automatically on September 01, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published August 25, 2026 – September 01, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.